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US firm picked to oversee construction of UAE rail network

Jacobs Engineering Group is selected to deliver engineering and design services for the 900km network

By Sam Bridge

Sat 14 Jul 2018 12:33 AM

US-based Jacobs Engineering Group has been selected by Etihad Rail to deliver critical technical and program consulting services for the UAE's largest national freight and passenger railway network.

Jacobs said in a statement that it will deliver engineering and design services for the 900km network, review and provide critical oversight for the detailed designs to be prepared by a network of design and build contractors, and provide construction supervision for the entire project.

The project will be built in phases to link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, and will form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network, it added.

In January 2016, it was announced that Etihad Rail had suspended the tendering process for stage 2 of the UAE's railway network as it reviewed the project investment.

At the time, Etihad Rail said in a statement that it was reviewing options for the timing and delivery of the project's second phase.

Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network will span approximately 1,200km across the Emirates, providing both freight and passenger services.

"We were able to bring together the combined technical resources and synergies of Jacobs and our recently acquired CH2M team that presents a fully-integrated service offering for this world-class rail project," said Jacobs Buildings, infrastructure and advanced facilities president Bob Pragada.

In May, French firm Egis was awarded a project management consultancy contract for the UAE's railway network.

The company will assist Etihad Rail in developing stages 2 and 3. The existing and currently operated network of 264km will be expanded between now and 2024 by over 600km in stage 2 and 250km in stage 3, it added.